Guantanamo Bay Coast Guard Team Mission Accomplished

San Diego based anti-terrorism unit returns after six month deployment in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in support of 'Operation Enduring Freedom'

During the deployment, Maritime Safety and Security Team (MSST) San Diego members formed the Joint Task Force Guantanamo Maritime Security Detachment and were responsible for securing the port and waterways around the base.

MSST San Diego boat crews, specialized in armed boat tactics and threat interdiction, conducted more than 4,500 hours of continuous patrols during the deployment.

The unit also provided shore-side security at Joint Task Force Guantanamo, which includes internal courtroom security for the expeditionary legal complex where military commissions for high value detainees are held.

Prior to deploying, unit members completed two-months of training that included boat and weapon qualifications, team coordination training and CPR certification. To augment the MSST’s active-duty component, reservists from across the nation were hand selected for the six-month deployment.

MSST San Diego was created under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA) in direct response to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and is a part of the Department of Homeland Security’s layered strategy directed at protecting seaports and waterways.